Ligue 1

Ligue 1 Round 24 Results: Marseille and Lyon drop further points as Reims make history

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By Mohammed Ali

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Feb 11, 2013 07:26:00

The chasing pack both failed to win for the second successive week as elsewhere, Montpellier were thrashed and Rennes' good form continued

SAINT-ETIENNE 4-1 MONTPELLIER

Saint-Etienne beat the snow as well as the reigning champions to move into fourth place after 45 minutes of delays at the Stade Geoffrey Guichard.

With heavy snow falling in the Rhone region, it was the hosts who warmed up by breaking the deadlock early on as Brandao turned in from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's cross before the Gabon international doubled the advantage with a well-taken backheel.

Despite an extended half-time break, Yohan Mollo fired the hosts further in front with a powerful finish before the visitors roared back through Remy Cabella, his shot piercing through Stephane Ruffier's net less than a minute later.

The weather continued to cause havoc, and after almost 45 minutes delay, the game was restarted at 65 minutes - with Mathieu Bodmer, a winter signing from Paris Saint-Germain, poking home a fourth to seal a resounding victory, Sainte's fourth in a row.

AC AJACCIO 1-0 BORDEAUX

Bordeaux's hopes of testing the top three was dented as they slipped to defeat in Corsica, as Ajaccio moved closer away from a relegation threat.

Despite needing Guillermo Ochoa to produce a number of fantastic saves to deny the visitors, the hosts would break the deadlock in superb fashion.

Ricardo Faty proceeded to beat Cedric Carrasso in the Bordeaux goal with an audacious overhead kick, enough to steal all three points.

The visitors tested Ochoa with numerous efforts from the likes of David Bellion and Nicolas Maurice-Belay, but it wasn't to be as the hosts rose to 13th place.

AS NANCY 1-2 STADE DE REIMS

Stade de Reims picked up their first win since October as well as a first win on the road in Ligue 1 for 35 years to condemn Nancy to bottom place.

On a night of history for the visitors, Hubert Fournier's side failed to pick up a victory since reaching a promising fourth place back in October, having endured a barren run which has seen them slip into the bottom three.

It appeared to go from bad to worse as Sebastian Puygrenier turned in early on to hand Nancy the advantage before Floyd Ayite - back from the Africa Cup of Nations, restored parity soon after the break.

Odair Fortes notched the winner just before the hour mark to send Reims out of the drop zone and leave Nancy in further relegation trouble.

OGC NICE 1-1 FC LORIENT

Nice rescued a late draw against Lorient, but will be disappointed to not have applied pressure on the chasing pack as the race for Europa League football intensifies.

Lucas Mareque nudged Christian Gourcuff's head in front with a well taken finish, and it appeared that the visitors would pick up a first win in three after a recent lapse in form.

Nevertheless the hosts roared back after that setback, Valentin Eysseric converting past Fabien Audard to ensure a point at Stade du Ray.

ESTAC TROYES 0-0 SOCHAUX

Neither Troyes nor Sochaux will be happy with the result as the relegation candidates played out a turgid 0-0 draw at Stade de l'Aube.

Neither side could find the net with both goalkeepers in decent form in an encounter which witnessed very few gilt-edged chances.

Joseph Lopy and Sebastien Roudet spurned the better opportunities in the match, with Yohan Thuram-Ulien holding his own well, while on the other hand, Jean Bahebeck's profligate finishing denied his side a winner as the game ultimately ended goalless.

VALENCIENNES 2-1 STADE BRESTValenciennes leapfrogged back into the top half of the table with a nervy 2-1 victory over a stubborn Brest side at Stade du Hainaut.

The hosts dominated from the off, and it wasn't long before they surged ahead after 10 minutes on the clock, as Mathieu Dossevi fired home to give his side an early advantage.

Brest failed to seriously trouble the hosts and it soon became 2-0 just before the half-time interval, courtesy of Rudy Mater.

Florian Raspentino - on loan from Marseille - bagged a consolation goal in second half injury time to ensure a grandstand finish, but VAFC held on.

EVIAN TG 1-1 OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLEMarseille's title hopes took yet another serious blow as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Evian, with the visitors also ending the game with nine men.

After last week's shock defeat at home to Nancy, the onus was on Elie Baup's men to challenge PSG who went further ahead on Friday night.

Andre Pierre Gignac put his side ahead with a fabulous half volley, before Kassim Abdallah saw red and conceded a penalty in which Yannick Sagbo converted.

Jordan Ayew - OM's saviour in recent weeks - turned villain after being sent off soon after coming on as a substitute, as Evian held on for a convincing point.

STADE RENNES 2-0 TOULOUSE

Rennes remained in the hunt for a European spot as they comfortably saw off the challenge of Toulouse at Stade de Route de la Lorient.

The visitors gave starts to Adil Hermach and PSG loanee Adrien Rabiot, as cover for Etienne Capoue, but struggled away from home once more.

Ali Ahamada gifted the hosts the opener, spilling the ball to allow new France international Romain Alessandrini - an unused sub in the midweek defeat to Germany - to score the first.

Mevlut Erding - on his 150th Ligue 1 start celebrated by converting home from Abdoulaye Sane's cross to pick up all three points for Frederic Antoinetti's men.

OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS 1-3 LOSC LILLE METROPOLELyon, like Marseille gifted the title advantage to PSG for the second week running as Lille picked up a surprise win at the Stade Gerland.

Aurelien Chedjou powered past Remy Vercoutre just before the half-hour to hand Rudi Garcia's side the advantage, though Lyon were slightly edging a toughly fought first half.

Just before half-time, it was 2-0 as Florent Balmont rifled home from 18 yards to further dent Lyon's fading title hopes.

Salomon Kalou tucked away a penalty straight after the interval before Lisandro Lopez's own spot-kick reduced the arrears midway through the second half.

Nevertheless, it is very much advantage PSG in the Ligue 1 title race, as Carlo Ancelotti's men sit six points ahead of Lyon and eight ahead of Marseille,